Staffing

Plant Power Fast Food hires former Chipotle, Yum executives, plans to double size

December 10, 2020

The appropriately named plant-based chain, Plant Power Fast Food, brought on three executives to help the seven-unit QSR grow in coming months, a news release said. The San Diego-based chain said it also plans to double in size in the next year.

The new hires, begin with a former Chipotle operations director, Dan Lowe, who will assume the role of Director of Operations at Plant Power. At Chipotle, Lowe covered the Upper Midwest, New York and New England. The QSR also has named former Hard Rock Café and Yum Brands executive, Rita Ugarte, as its director of New Restaurant Openings and Operations Excellence. Lastly, former U.S. Navy HR manager , Fabian Cervantes, joined the company as director of Human Resources

The three hires, will join with the rest of Plant Power's team to help pen seven new locations in the next 16 months. New locations include Hollywood, Laguna Hills, Sacramento, San Clemente and two new San Diego locations, all in California. Additionally, the first out-of-state location will be formally announced in 2021.

The company said that 2020 brand-wide net sales are forecast to hit $14 million, representing a 46.83% increase over the previous year and 1172.7% growth since the company's inception in 2016. The company has prided itself on being 100% plant-based, 99% GMO-free and based on the principals of sustainability.

"Consumers can make a difference in the world by simply decreasing their consumption of meat and dairy and making healthier plant-based choices," co-founder and Co-CEO Mitch Wallis said in the release. "It's not as hard as people think. The whole idea of Plant Power Fast Food is to deliver the fun, delicious fast food that people love but with a twist—it's plant based. It's better for you and better for the planet. We think that's a pretty good deal for everyone."